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Saratoga Sampler
Artists were adept at adapting art to fans
By Mary Ann Cook
FAN FARE: Saratoga Sister City members held a potluck dinner featuring after-dinner speaker Sally Kirby, a docent at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Kirby presented a slide show about the history and aesthetics of fans.
There is still disagreement about whether fans originated in China or Japan, but Kirby came equipped with examples of both countries from the museum's collection. A surprise in her presentation was that both sexes used fans at various times through the ages.
Men used fans made of metal and carried them into battle. These had beautiful decorative paintings on them, and were used in much the same fashion as banners were in medieval Europe.
Fans were made of wood panels, or covered with lighter materials such as silk. Some were painted on one side, and poetry was inscribed in calligraphy on the other. Most depicted blossoming trees or flowers, but some showed entire landscapes.
The artists were adept at adapting their designs to the configuration of the fan. Fans were one of the first climate-control objects, used originally for cooling the brow. Oddly enough, Kirby didn't say anything about using fans in the art of flirting.
I always assumed that's why fans were invented in the first place. Kirby also urged her audience to visit the basket display at the Asian Museum. Most are from Korea, and are exquisite, individual works of art. National treasures, she called them.
NEW HANDBOOK: A new handbook called Silicon Valley Handbook is just out, one in the series of Moon Travel Handbooks, published by Avalon Travel Publishing of Emeryville. It's a compendium of history, attractions, festivals and accommodations, including hotels and restaurants.
It's the work of Martin Cheek who was a reporter for the Saratoga News' sister publication, the Los Gatos Weekly-Times during the early '90s. Cheek credits Florence Cunningham's history: Saratoga's First Hundred Years in his acknowledgments.
But his first nod of appreciation goes to Saratoga News photographer Kathy De La Torre. He says she was the one who laughed and said it was a good idea when he proposed his original plan--a survival guide to be titled How to Have Fun in the Most Affluent Area of the Wealthiest State in the Richest Country in the World Even if You Don't Have Bill Gates' Bank Account.
De La Torre was there at the inception. Saratoga is covered in the handbook with its history and high points. An overview of industry, hiking and biking trails, maps--all are included.
A sequel will follow eventually since the Silicon Valley world is rapidly changing. The sequel will be titled Silicon Valley Handbook 2. The publisher's email address is travel@moon.com. The book may be found at local bookstores and at amazon.com.
EXCHANGE STUDENTS: In other Sister-City news, applications are now being taken for students who want to be part of the Sister City exchange. Four students from the Saratoga area will visit Muko-Shi as student ambassadors from July 24 to Aug. 14.
The students stay in the homes of the Japanese students who, in turn, live in Saratoga during a reciprocal visit. Marlene Duffin at 408.867.1410 has all the information and applications. Deadline is May 1, but earlier applications are appreciated
PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ: A roaring '20s theme, "Puttin' on the Ritz" is set for the 14th annual Silicon Valley Charity Ball to be held on May 6, at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Saratogans Marie Low and Los Gatan Cathy Gillum are in charge of publicity. Some 3,500 are expected to attend, and Danny Glover is this year's host. Musical groups include Pamela Rose and her Syncopated Six and Pride & Joy. Composer/musician Bruce Hornsby will entertain after dinner. Last year's ball raised $1 million. This year approximately 44 nonprofit agencies will benefit.
BENEFIT FOR HOMELESS: About 20,000 people are homeless each year in this valley. The AAUW Committee on Homeless Women and Children was formed to help those in that plight. More than one-third of these are people who have jobs and still are homeless.
Some 35,000 people ask for help yearly from one of the agencies that AAUW's Committee on Homeless benefits, such as InnVision and the San Jose Family Shelter. The committee sponsors an annual tea/silent auction to raise funds. An astonishing number of the homeless even have college degrees.
Nancy Anderson and JoAn Lambert were co-chairwomen for the event. Penny Sink and Melva Vollerson are the committee co-chairwomen.
THE BOYFRIEND: West Valley Light Opera is presenting The Boyfriend at the Saratoga Civic Center, and Saratogan Kristi Kramer is in the cast. The drama group is 35 years old this year. Nancy Kwong is producer of the current show.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
